Got "Kit Car'd" again today----

Oh man, I felt it got real annoying when my normal driver was a shitty looking '49 Plymouth. Just because I drive a fifty year old car doesn't mean that I want to have you sitting in it; that same person would be pissed if I jumped in his ride!

And I don't make eye contact or wave to anybody in any kind of car anymore. Because I respect the fact that maybe someone else wants to be left alone to enjoy his or her car without having to interact with me.

But, did anybody tell you that's a nice dune buggy?

-bill

 

Then it's ok for me to walk up and squeeze your wife's/mother's/sister's ass or tit if you bring them out in public?
It's ok to walk across the hoods or roofs of all the cars in the parking lot?
His running boards are painted body color, and it's not just ratty ass primer.

Don't get me wrong, I love children but very few people know how to prepare them right,
and they ARE animals if they aren't trained to be civilized humans.

 

Kinda on topic, so I go to this cruise in deal one night, at the time I only had my Halibrand 18" genuine Indy wheels on the back and red wire wheels on the front, this annoying old guy was ragging on EVERYONES cars I hear him say about mine now that car would look better if it had wheels on the back like it has on the front, blah blah blah then he says somethong about how his 40 ford is original and he would never do anything to it to change it from it's perfect original state. Well I am usually pretty laid back and don't say shit to anyone but this guy was so damn annoying so as i am looking at his 40 ford he walks up and starts going on and on and on so I say hey nice car to bad it's not the original engine, WHAT it's the original flathead that came in it he says, no it isn't I politely inform him, yes it is he says, no sir I say what you have in your 40 ford is an 8ba they were made from 1949 to 1953 your car is a 1940 I turn around and walk away and see all kinds of people smiling at me.

 

Yes, it's a major PITA when some rug rat climbs on your ride (car/scoot/whatever). However, I think it's an absolute blast when people look at, admire and want to talk about what I'm riding/driving. Makes me feel good.

 

i think some people are missing the difference in coming out and some one is IN your car or just steps on or into your car with out asking you.

if some one asks you then sure no big deal, its sort of to be expected cus its neat.

if you walked out of the store and there was some one sitting in your 03' pickup work truck wouldnt you be a touch upset?

 

Scaring the crap outta kids is nothing to brag about. Now the kids will remember you as that mean old bastard that yelled at us instead of the cool guy that had the hotrod.

They shouldn't have been on your runningborads, but you don't have to explode, they're just kids after all. You can shoo them away.

If you can't stand the attention, drive something else, or don't park it with the general public. It really is that easy.

 

Good, I guess I'm not the only one who can see the difference between a little kid excited about a hot rod who steps on a running board and a grown man grabing a strangers tits.

-Jeff

 

as far as the kids thing goes, i can't blame the guy for being a little pissed that the kids hopped on his ride... i'm not sure if this is one of those situations where the mom was at fault or kids were just being kids.. what can you do.. you run that risk whenever you take your car out..

i guess that's why i never paint anything!!.. i'd hate to get all squirmy when my son or friends kids crawl allover my car.. my t is just one big jungle gym when i pull her out of the shop..

as far as the kit car comments go i've learned to take amusement in it... and hell if you can educate folks a little bit, what the hell... to date my favorite term is still dune buggy, although "munster mobile" is really starting to take the lead...

 

I'll back that. Yelling at a little kid sends the message that hotrodders are assholes and stereotypes us. Break the mold and invite the kids in the car, but give mean looks to their parents!

 

I can't break my old man off his habit of touching other peoples cars. I'll remind him on the way to a cruise-in or show or whatever that most folks don't like you touching their cars, how easy paint can get scratched, etc. First car we get to I look and he's running his hand over the fender, talking about how smooth the paint is, and reminiscing about one he used to have.

I usually don't mind the attention and incessant questions, I just can't stand the 'know-it-alls' who step up and start spewing incorrect information to whoever will listen.

 

I think he was saying if you WERE a charles manson looking douchebag with "KILLER" and a swastika tattoo'd on your forhead , teardrops down both cheeks from the corners of your eyes, and jackboots with a chain drive wallet & no sleeves, standing next to a flat black hot rod with skulls and iron crosses & rust all over it , you WOULDN'T get approached. The innocent dad looking guy with a bright sunny colored cute little trucky in front of the grocery store is going to have to endure every goofy thing that comes to anyones mind. Be more like the guy above, or get 2 magnetic FUCK OFF AND STAY AWAY OR I'LL KILL YOU signs and slap them on the doors when you park, or endure it.

Have a nice day

 

thats some funny sh*t there, but I think its just the color yellow.

Anyway,
I love it when people look at my rpu,
but not when they
open the door,
and close it,
then open it again etc.

Then they turn the wheel,
back and forth,
back and forth.
Like till the kingpins and cowl steering are twisting.
Kmon guy!?!

This one guy in a raised truck came over and did that,
it was driving me crazy, I didn't know him.
So I went and checked out his TOYota all tubular framed,
and opened the door, and closed it and turned the wheel.

He looked at me like wtf, but I just said how cool his truck was
and then I think he realized it.

anyway,

next time ask them for $5 and give them a ride around the lot! ok $3 alap

TP

 

I never understood why people paint running boards -

 

I've had the "kit car", the "my uncle had one just like it except...", the "my uncle had a (fill in with any irrelevant different car)", the "nice restoration", the "how long did it take to restore it", the tap-tap-tap on the fibreglass then:"yep, they don't make 'em like that anymore," the "what's it worth?" as in it's an old car, it must be "priceless" and so on. They kinda roll off and can turn into a half decent conversaion.

But the one that really pisses me off is the "Mmm, I like them better with fenders, more original you know." Oh fuck off.

What is it with people? It's not like we're parked with a sign saying "please make a personal and subjective judgement about my car - and feel free to be rude."

I'd love to say back, "Man I like the shirt, but those pants and shoes stink!"

And what's with the sitting in cars thing? I know people that's happened to, I just can't get my head around it.

 

I got a kick out of the guy that pulled up along side my stock 36 Ford Ford beater P/U and asks what year is that? I say 1936. He say.."No it aint! not with that grill!"

My favorite was at a parts store. My buddy and I come out and there is s guy checking out my resto-rod 36 tudor touring sedan. He says "this is the way I like 'em...stock. I hate it when they put a Chevy motor in them and make them a roadster!" I just smiled. We never told him it had a 283 in it.

When we climbed in, my buddy says "Yeah...you wish a Chevy motor could turn this into a roadster"

Don't blame the kids. They don't know. They couldn't choose their parents. Hell. we were tought not to touch in a toy store!

 

This one I have to remember.
Give it that dry, Dennis Leary touch.

 

all this talk about people asking questions about your car reminds me of when we first finished my fathers car back in the early 90's. back then nobody new what a flatmotor was, or any old motor for that matter. we would go to a cruise night and invariably it was my loving duty to spit shine her when we got there. never failed while I was standing around that two guys would come up and have an argument about whether the car had a V8 or a V6 in it. one guy would say, it's a V8! it's got 8 plugs! the other would say it's a six cuz it only has 6 exhaust ports! after the first 20 times of hearing this discussion I decided to set the record straight! I would tell them that this is a ford engine, and in Henry's ingenious mind he added two spare cylinders just in case you were on a long drive and one of the others had a problem you could just switch over to one of the "spares" instead of being stranded. I NEVER had anyone question that answer. Even though I never could say it with a straight face. All I got was "OOOhh Ahhhh wow that guy was smart"

as far as kids go, I don't care how ratty or nice the car looks, you NEVER touch anything that isn't yours. 7 is plenty old enough to know the difference between what is yours and what isn't. Just because you haven't taught your little monster this doesn't mean I'm going to put up with it. Keep your little sex trophys to yourselves.

 

Boys, it was an interesting 35 minutes. I think I'll go hang out in front of the grocery store more often-----


Your wife can do her grocery shopping in 35 minutes?
Definitely worth 2 or 3 dumb questions and a footprint!!

 

I taught my kid to do what I do at car shows, put both your hands in your pockets when you approach a car.

The people i hate the most are the 'Whoaaa Duuude!' guys. You usually see these idiots hanging out in front of convienence stores. They're in their late 20's-early 30's, mullet, heroin face, neon colored tank top, dirty shorts, cigarette company fanny pack, wearing aqua socks or unlaced hi-tops, cig behind the ear, lives in Grandma's garage, and driving the BMX bike. When you pull in they scream "Whoaaa Duuude!" from across the parking lot, drop their Mt Dew slurpee, then haul ass over to your car, and proceed to tell you how nice your car is, but it isn't as good as their 57 Chevy with the chrome engine and how your car would look so much better in a different color and how their Chevy runs 6's at the track on 2-wheels then tell you that your Chevy might be that good some day, and after you listen to the big run on sentence you tell them it's a Ford. We also call these guys tweekers.

 

Josh,,,Model A trucks came with painted runnin' boards,,,,

I have went thru the kids on painted boards also,,,

I came out of the store to find a kid that had been playing on a softball team standing with one cleated foot on the painted running board and the other cleated foot on the front fender leanin' aginst the cowl getting his photo taken by his dear mother!

This kid was probably 10/12 years old and weighed in around 80 lbs.

I didn't have time to think and be rational,,,I went of like a madman,,,,,I had just painted the truck the week before,,,,,I yelled at the woman to get her kid off my truck,,,,,,,and to my amazement she cussed me like a yard dog
Hell, she knew phrases that most sailors didn't,,,I was stunned!

Fast forward to today,,,I have rubber on the boards of the sedan and no boards to worry about on the roadster,,,,

I can understand small children wanting to look inside they just immitate what the see their parents doing,,,but they ain't tall enough to peer over the door ,,,so the running board is just a step for them,,,,,

When I see this type of behavior at a cruise-in or at a shopping center I try to inform parents as to how some people have a lotta time and money in their cars and that scratches don't wipe off,,,

I don't care if the kids touch my ol' GLASS roadster,,,heck I even open the door and let them sit in it,,,,sometimes you just have to be a teacher,,to the parents and the kids! HRP

 

People are funny ... but most just want to talk. Even the ones that think they know about cars ... nobody can know everything about every kind of car. I know a little about 32 Fords ... ... but I admit to being ignorant about most HAMB acceptable vehicles except 55 Chevrolets and 56 F-100's. I like a LOT of the other stuff ... but really know nothing much about them.

As for children ... they have to be taught. I tell them ... in a firm but polite way ... to get off my running boards ( rubber ... not paint ) and please do not touch the car. IF they are nice ... and or ask first ... I open the door ... even let them sit in it ... ( it's just a car ).

Talking to people can be rewarding. I have run up on some good deals on 32 parts and pieces by being nice. I have also chased a LOT of dead end leads It's all part of the hobby. Free car shows and cruise nights are the worse for the uneducated questions and climbing on the car ... because you get so many folks who do not have a clue. When you are at a PAID ADMISSION $$$ event ... the quality of spectators is much better. It is because they , as a general rule, know more about cars and understand the guidelines of car etiquette.

I hear the KIT CAR questions ...
Did you buy it new ?
Is it good on gas ?
ECT ...

But about the coolest thing happened a few years back ...
I was driving my 32 Ford Roadster and going to Charlotte NC on the Interstate and came up on a mid 80's Chrysler with Florida tags. A older couple was in it. I followed them for a few miles @ 70 MPH and when the Highway got further away from town, I passed them @ 80 - 85 MPH and went on up the road. 50 miles or so up the Interstate I stopped at the rest area ... when I came out ... they had just pulled in. The lady asked the usual questons ... year, made and ect Then she told me " it keeps up with traffic pretty good to be that old " ...
PRICELESS ...

 

Well said,,,,maybe she can teach My wife how to do that in 35 minutes! HRP

 

It pays to be nice to people admiring your car no matter how dumb they are... Sometimes it even gets you laid.....

 

Yes - but they had rubber pads to be utilized as steps!!!!!! Not shiny gloss paint. I am specifically talking about painted running boards without the pads

People like to step on them because they were steps - its funny then they usually twist the foot making a cool circular scratch.

 

Okay---I see that I have brought up a lot of interesting responses, ranging from "set back and enjoy it" to "kill anyone who gets closer than 10 foot". My post was intended as a "tongue in cheek" attempt at humour. I know those things happen to everyone who has a hotrod. Yes, my wife can do the grocery shop in 35 minutes, there are only the 2 of us left at home now. You have to be an exhibisionist to drive a neat old hotrod on a daily basis. Imagine how dissapointed I would have been if I had parked at a busy grocery store for half an hour and no-one had came over to look/talk/ask dumb questions. Yep, I did yell at the kid not to step on my painted running boards. I taught all my kids to respect other peoples property and not go climbing on stuff that don't belong to them, and I expext other people to teach their kids the same way. I answered all dumb questions, and a few logical, well thought out questions. I asked the kid that I shooed off the running board if he wanted to set in the car beside me and that if he did step up on a running board to always step on the aluminum step plate, thats what they are there for. I really enjoyed my 35 minute wait at the grocery store, and the opportunity to talk to "normal citizens" who don't live, breath, and dream hotrods all the time. I didn't try to "scare" anyone---tatood heads, sharp knives, and mean faces are not big on my list of things that I want to cultivate. About 15 percent of me lives in "hotrod world"---the other 85 percent lives in a world where people raise familys, work hard for a living, and try their best to blend into what we call "society"---Thank you all for the views and comments.----Brian

 

Gotta love some people. I've been asked several times about the "boat" motor in my car. See pics here.

 

I'm kind of in the real rods have functional parts (IE: running boards -- not fiberglass "please don't ever step on me" street rod peices). This discussion harks to the new HAMB blood thread I just started. I've been to a lot of places in my old Buick and I get a lot of people with fond memories of cars they had, their grandparents had, etc... I love the people that come up and give me a thumbs up or "great looking car". Rusty paint, beautiful chrome bumpers (remarkably pristine) and something that isn't like the cookie cutter Honda/Toyota/etc... that someone else has. Fun stuff.

 

Well---I kinda relate---. My rpu has a steel cab and box, but the fenders and splash aprons and running boards are glass. They are difinately "functional" to the point where I built steel auxiliary supports full length under the running boards and they do support me (at 270 pounds) when i step on them---ya can't get much more functional than that. But they are painted in a high gloss finish, and paint scratches when it gets stepped on----don't make a damn bit of difference if its glass or steel---thats why I have aluminum step plates on the boards.

 

It seems to me you are the one with the problem. To most folks you have an unusual car and they are interested. You might try being friendly enuff to answer their questions, who knows, one of them just might tell you about "this old car they know about in a barn", or at least think they met a nice guy with a cool car.

A good way to keep them away is to leave it at home, or consider not "power parking" to attract attention.